Compartir

DES MOINES, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AmeriHealth
Caritas Iowa, a Medicaid managed care health plan that will serve
Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries as part of the state’s new IA Health Link
program beginning March 1, 2016, and Wheaton
Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa (Wheaton Iowa), a faith-based
comprehensive health care provider, announced today that they have
signed an agreement that will give AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa’s members
access to Wheaton Iowa’s comprehensive medical and surgical health care
services throughout Northeast Iowa.

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare includes hospitals, clinics and other
services in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Its
Iowa sites include Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Sartori
Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls and Mercy Hospital of Franciscan
Sisters in Oelwein, as well as more than 100 primary care and specialty
providers at its 26 Covenant
Clinic locations.

AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of
Companies (AmeriHealth Caritas), which has more than 30 years of
experience caring for populations with complex health conditions.
AmeriHealth Caritas has successfully implemented Medicaid managed care
plans throughout the country based on a unique integrated model of care,
which includes physical and behavioral health, pharmacy benefit
management, and specialty pharmacy services.

With the addition of Wheaton Iowa to its provider network, AmeriHealth
Caritas Iowa members will now have access to five of the state’s largest
health systems.

“As a mission-driven organization, Wheaton Iowa is a natural partner for
us in our effort to help Iowans get healthy and stay well,” said Cheryl
Harding, market president of AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa. “Our providers
are the backbone of our programs, and as our partners they are a
critical component to our ability to improve the overall health and
wellness of individuals, families and communities in Iowa. We are
excited to add Wheaton Iowa to our network.”

“We are pleased to announce this agreement with AmeriHealth Caritas. The
partnership will provide better access to high-quality health care
services to vulnerable populations, and that is part of our mission and
commitment to the communities we serve,” said Jack Dusenbery, president
and CEO of Wheaton Iowa.

The new IA Health Link program will serve the majority of Iowa’s
Medicaid population, or about 560,000 Iowans, through select managed
care plans. For more information about the IA Health Link program, visit http://dhs.iowa.gov/.

About AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa

AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of
Companies, is one of the Medicaid managed care plans that will
participate in IA Health Link beginning in March 2016. AmeriHealth
Caritas Iowa will help Iowans get proper care and stay well, working
with communities in need to achieve positive health outcomes throughout
the state. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritasia.com.

About AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies

AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in
partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. AmeriHealth Caritas
is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most
in need. Operating in 16 states and the District of Columbia,
AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 6.9 million Medicaid, Medicare and
CHIP members through its integrated managed care products,
pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services,
behavioral health services, and other administrative services.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven
organization with more than 30 years of experience serving low-income
and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

About Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-Iowa is a faith-based 511-bed,
not-for-profit, comprehensive medical/surgical health care provider
offering acute levels of medical care at Covenant Medical Center in
Waterloo; Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, and Mercy Hospital
in Oelwein. Its services in the region also include Covenant Clinic with
more than 100 primary care and specialty providers; Covenant Foundation,
Sartori Health Care Foundation and Mercy Hospital Foundation. Areas of
excellence include cardiology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, maternity and
NICU, cancer treatment, minimally invasive and Bariatric surgery.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare invests in the Iowa communities we serve
and is committed to living out the healing ministry by providing
exceptional and compassionate health care service that promotes the
dignity and well-being of its patients. For more information, visit www.wheatoniowa.org.